Meny

Sample of literary figures

  • Sergeant Santos

    Male

    It is not clear what Santos’ first name is. He is the head of the police department in a little community outside the city of Salvador in Brazil, where his creator, Kjell Eriksson, also lives nowadays. Santos’ stout wife is called Zelita and they have five children together. Hardened by the corruption in his native country, he prefers to drink beer and lie in his hammock, but now and then he is obliged to work – and then he is very successful.

    Further reading

  • Hercule Poirot

    Male

    The Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot worked for the Belgian police until Agatha Christie transferred him to England. Poirot is characterised by his vanity, his strong French accent, his egg-shaped head and his impressive moustache, and he solves crime in a string of classic whodunits. Poirot eventually became so famous that <i>The Times</i> published an obituary when Christie killed him off in one of her books.

    Further reading

  • Kurt Wallander

    Male

    Wallander lives and works in Ystad, southern Sweden. But it does not prevent him from leading investigations of especially difficult cases, chasing serial killers and international criminals. Through Henning Mankell’s books as well as adaptations for film and television, he has become a popular figure and one of Sweden’s best-known fictional characters worldwide.

    Further reading

  • Tommy (Thomas) Lynley

    Male

    Thomas Lynley is a Scotland Yard detective inspector. He is also the eighth Earl of Asherton, he is rich, well educated and good looking. Not everybody appreciates his aristocratic background, including his sergeant, Barbara Havers, which does not prevent the two from making a formidable team. According to the author, Elizabeth George, they respect each other’s idiosyncrasies. Lynley features in all Elizabeth Georges adult novels.

    Further reading